Record-controlled musical instrument



May 28, 1929. T. F. CHI-:EK

RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 7. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet May 28, 1929.

T. F, CHEEK RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May '7. 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 28, 1929. T F CHEEK 1,715,279

RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 7, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 28, 1929. T, F, CHEEK 1,715,279

RECORD GONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 7. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 "fz Y um ff May 28, 1929. T. F. cHEl-:AK 1,715,279

RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 7, 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 at? Wm" May 28, 1929. T. F. cHEEK 1,715,279

RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May '7. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 gllwluumuwg May 28, 1929. r F, CHEEK 1,715,279

RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 7, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 '-F/ 'J9 .20. ,104 1Z0 10.5 /104 P106 4! Y o6 l l Mms. m /107 Jol WW n WWI .1oz ,-100 y lo@ f Patented May 28, 1929.

l 1,715,279 PATENT oF F21 es.

TOLBERT F. CREEK, or NE-w- YORK, N. Y., ASISYIGNORBY MEsNEIAssrGNMENTsf-To WELTE-MIGNON CORPORATION, or' NEWYORK, NNY., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE. l v

'REcoRn-OONTROLLED MUSICAL' 1NsfriwivmN'r.

Application'fled vIl lIay 7, 1921. Serial No.l 467,648.

This invention relates broadly to record controlledA pneumatic mechanismsifor operating, or controlling the operation ofmusical instruments, particularly fpiauos, many 6 of its elements and features being applicable to such-mechanisms, broadly. I -f "':'l 11 More particularly considered; fhowever, it relates especially toi automatic pianosof-the horizontal or grand type-and having an electricallydriven pump for creatingor inducing the pressures which-operate the striker pneumatics, the pneumatic motor which feeds the perforatedv note sheet ontov the take up roll and back Onto the musicroll, and the m'eans forv controlling the motor.

'In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of vtheinventiongfand in which drawings like characters of reference 'denote' corresponding parts in theseveral views:

Fig.v 1 is lafront viewof apart-of a piano, showing the rela-tive' arrangement` of the pneumatic motor, spool box and various elements of the motor control mechanisms, in

the space at the front of the piano above-the key board, the electric'- motor and pump` which 'may be arranged inany suitable part of the pian`o,"being Vshown below.- the key board. In this view -the parts are shown :n in theA positionstheyv occupy'when thenote sheet has 4been 4inserted andi-.connected to the take-up spool and thejcireuit to the electric motor has been closedybut with the transmission mechanism'istill in neutral posit-ion.' "1

Fig. 2 is :1 front View, on a larger scale than the preceding figure, illustrating 'the spool box and the parts therein,and also one form of transmission mechanismwvhich may be employed to drive thetake up spool in a counter clockwise direction in the playing operation and to apply the power to the music roll, to drive the same in a clockwise direction, in the rewinding operation, the parts being shown in the position they occupy in the rewinding operation immediately. prior to the end of such operation.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the control unit D.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of said unit.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of theunitviewed from the side vpresented toward' the spool hex. i I

Fig. (Slis a plan view-of .said unit.

isY a section on the line 7-7 kof Fig. 10 is a' sectiOn-'on'fthe line l'0-10'of 6;' i -f- -Fig. 11 is a detail plan viewof a part lof the spool boxlandtake up spool-showin'g'a section vof"afperforated note sheet or record on the spool Aand also showing the primaryy valve of the meanswhich controls the'eiipansion and collapse of=the electr ic eut olf pneumatic and the means for actuating' said valve. 'f1- Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line 12-12ofFig. 11. 1 Fig. 13 is a View of the 'same parts shown in F igsgll and 12, partly in frontfelevation and'partlyiinlongitudinal section, but shows the correlation of the -parts whenI the narrowingr end of the music lsheet hasl been reached in the re-winding operation and the aperture 72in'thetake-up spool has thereby been exposed.

f' Fig.14 is a-detail view of the valvulardevice'which ism'anually set to control the replay' pneumatic and causeA the music to be replayed ornot,at willi'l r Fig-15 a view of the control unit'E, partlyin'fsidefelevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, the-sectionbeing taken Ona line which extends through the port through whichthe interior of the goveimer-pneumatic El has communication with the main suction chamber in the unit E, the

line of section corresponding to that-indi cated at 15-15 inFig.17.' Y

Fig. 16 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on a line corresponding to the line 16-16 in Fig. "17.

' Fig. 17 is a detail 'plan v-iew of the block orbody part of the unit E, withjthe cover member and valves removed.

Fig. 18 is a plan View of said unit complete, with a part of the cover removed. Fig. 19 is a transverse sectional view on the line-19-19 of Fig. 18: and 1 Fig. 20 is a'transverse sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 18.

A designates anordinary 'spool box having theusual tracker har 11. take up spool 12-and stub shafts 137 '13"L to be `engaged by the pins on the ends of the music roll 14. The take up spool is arranged below the tracker bar and is driven in a counter clockwise direction, viewed from the right hand, while feeding the record from the music roll.

B designates an ordinary pump for producing within 4the system the air tensions which influence the operations of the various pneumatic elements, and Bl designates an electric motor, which may be of any suitable construction, for operating the pump. The pneumatic elements shown in the drawings comprise a motor C for feeding and rewinding the music roll, a motor control unit. D, which includes a cut off pneumatic D, a. rewind pneumatic D2 and a replay pneumatic D3, arranged in a most compact relation and a second motor control unit E, which includes a governor pneumatic El, a .pneumatically operable Valve 122 for opening up a by-path around the governor pneumatic from the motor to the source of power, for the rewinding operation, and a pneumatically operable valve 127 for closing the air passage between the motor and source of power. fn addition to these, the mechanism will also include the usual, or any suitable striker pneumatics and if desired any suitable construct-ion of expression means, together with parts for operating them from the tracker bar and under control of the music roll. Striker pneumatics and expression means, together with means for controllably actuating them are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention; hence, they are not herein illustrated.

The motor C herein illustrated is of that well known type which includes a plurality of horizontal bellows 1.5 whose movable boards 15 are connected by rods 15b to the cranks 16 of a crank -shaft 16 arranged above the bellows and adjacent the front of the motor. This motor is arranged in the f space between the pin block H and piano shelf H1 and the rods 15 and cranks 16L are arranged to drive said shaft in a counter clockwise direction viewed from t-he right hand` and the shaft drives a transmission mechanism, which may be of any construction suitable for applying power in a counter clock-wise direction to the take up spool 12 in the feeding of the perforated music sheet or record from the music roll in playing, and for applying power to the music roll 14 in a clockwise direction` viewed from the right hand, to rewind the music sheet or record thereon, preparatory to the replaying of the music or to the removal. of the roll from the spool box. The transmission mechanism here shown comprises a sprocket 17 mounted on the ond of the crank shaft 16 and connected by a chain 18 with a sprocket 19 which transmits movement in a counterclockwise direction to a counter shaft 20.

spool 12 during the playing operation. Ther shaft 23 is also provided with a gear 26 which is :loose thereon and with a collar 27 which is fast thereon. The gear 26 and collar 27 have co-opera-ting projections 27l and 27h which, in the rewind-ing operation, engage eaeh other and operate to transmit movement from the shaft 23 to t-he gear 26.

This gear 26 is meshed with a -pinion 28 rV mounted on a counter-.shaft 28a. U )on this counter .shaft there is also mounte a gear 28", which ma-y be attached tothe pinion 28 and meshes with a. gear .-29 on the end of the music roll vshaft 13. Accordingly, it will be seen that Iwhen the shaft 23 is moved longitudinally toward the left hand from the neutral position of the .par-ts, (which neutral position is shown in Fig. 1) the pinion 24 will be thrown into mesh with the gear 25 and the latter vwill thereby be driven in a counter clockwise direction. At this time the collar 27 is disconnected from the gear 26. The music roll 14 is thus free to be rotated in a counter clockwise direction viewed from the right by movement'imparted thereto from the take up roll, to which the power is applied.' On the other hand, when the shaft 23 is moved longitudinally -toward the right hand beyond .the neutral position of the parts, .as shown in Fig. 2, t-he pinion 24 isnotengaged with the lgear 25 and the.p'rojections 271 and 27h of the gear 26 and collar 27 will be engaged with each other, whereby the power will be :applied to the music roll 14 and the latter rotated in a clockwise direction .while the take up spool 12 willbe free to be rotated by the perforated music sheet thus being unrolled therefrom and rolled back onto the music roll.

As a means for moving the shaft 23 longitudinally it is shown as provided with a grooved collar 3() fixed thereon and engaged by a member 31 which is pivoted at 32 and has a portion which encircles or partiallyI encircles the collar and is provided with projections 33 to engage the groove-in the collar. This member 31 is moved pi\'otall \Y by means hereinafter set forth.

The illustrated motor controlunit D Figs. 3-10, inclusive, is provided -with a blot-l: or body member preferably formed of two separable parts 35 and 35, suitably secured (o each other. The part 35 is provided with a main chamber 36 (Fig. 7) having a dus! 37 (Fig. 4) through which it is under suction from the main source of pneumatic power. This part is valso provided with loo chambers ,38, 39, and 40 (Fig. 7) separated from the suctionchamber 36 by membranes 41, 42 and '43 and connected with said suction chamber, byl bleed` openings44, .45, and 4G. The part 35a of the block or body is provided with ,chambersi47, 48 and 49 having suction ports 50, 51 and 52 respectively, and atmospheric ports 53,154, an'd55, re.- spectively.l .Channels-56, 57 and 58 ext-end from the chambers V47:,48and 49 vto the respective pneumatics'` D1, D2 and` D3. .The pneumatic D1 is mountedon one side of the body member 35?. The pneumatics D2 and D3 have a common fixed boar-dD'Z3 which is secured toan edge ofthe, body part 35. The channe1s,.57,and 58v extendinto this board and communicate with the interiors of the pneumatics D2 and D3, respectively. It will thus be seen ,that the `pneumatics D, D2 andD3 are grouped about the block or body member 35, 35n in amost.- compact relation.

The chambers 47, 48 and 49 are provided with valve members 59, 60 and 61 respectively, Whose stems'are engaged by the corresponding .membranes 41, 42 and 43, the correlation of partsbeing such that` when air at atmospheric pressure is admitted to either of the chambers 38, 39 or 40, (as through ducts 68, 81 or,90, respectively, tor

example) the corresponding,membrane willV be inflated and will movethe corresponding valvular member v59, 60 or 61, thereby opening the corresponding suction port 50, 51, or 52 and closing. theLcorresponding atmospheric vport 53, 54,*.or 55, and,similarly, when air at atmospheric. pressure is cxcludedfrom the chambers 38, 39 and 40, the membranes will vbe detlated jthrough the bleed holes 44, 45, 46, respectively and the valvular members will be moved to and close the suction -ports and open :the atmospheric ports. v In this particular exemplification of thev invention, the pressure of the atmosphere against those portions of the valve members 59, 60, or 61 which are presented tothe atmospheric ports 53, 54, may he relied upon to open the atmospheric ports and close the suction ports when chambers 38, 39, 40 are closed to theatmospherc andopen to the suction chamber 3G. Thus, it will be seen that pneumatics D', D2, D" will be forcibly collapsed when air at atmospheric pressure is admitted to chambers 38, 39, 40, respectively, through the communicatiou thus temporarily established between the interiors of the respective pneumatic-s and the suction chamber 36 and that at' all other times their interiors are in communication with the atmosphere through the ports 53, 54 and 55, respectively.

The means for starting and stopping the mot-or B includes a manually operable startingr member AG5, an electric switch G8 ot any suitable construction and the aforesaid cut off, pneumatic D, so correlated that when the starting member 65 is operated in the prescribed direction to start the motor the switch will be operated to close the circuit through the motor, and when the pneumatic D. is collapsed under control of the. record the switch will be operated to open the eircuit through the motor. One arrangement. of parts suitable for the purpose is illustrated, but arrangements ditiering therefrom in detail may be employed. In the illustrated arrangement the starting member (S5-'is' a longitudinally movable rod one of Whose ends is arranged in the spool box A, as is customary, and whose other end is attached to the movable board 66 ot' the pneumatic D', to which movable board there is :also attached a rod 67 by which it is connected to the switch 68. vW hen the parts are. thus arranged, the motor is started by pulling the starting member longitudinally, thus moving the movable board of the pneumatic to a position somewhat beyond the position it occupies under non-operating conditions, i. e. when the pneumatic is under atmospheric pressure Within and without. hisl manual movement ofthe board 66 closes the switch and starts the motor B.

Whether or not the operating member be. a longitudinal rod attached to the movable board of the pneumatic D', as illustrated. the starting member and pneumatic should be so correlated with each other and with the'sWitch that when the starting meudier is operatediin a certain direct-ion the circuit. including the motorV B will be closed and that duringthe operationof said motor the. pneumatic D\vill be. in condition such that it may be collapsed under control ot the record and when so collapsed will cause the switch to be operated to open said circuit and alsoA cause the starting member to be restored .to its former position. In order that theirecord may control the expansion and collapse of the pneumatic D, the ehamber 38 is connected to an atmospheric duct of) which extends therefrom and has its inlet'. in the spool box A and is opened at. the completion of the rewinding operation et the music roll, to admit air at atmospheric pressure to the chamber 38, by a valve 70 having an operating member 71, piiii'iaril),Y con-- trolled by the music roll, as follows: '.lhe take up roll 12 is provided with a recess 72 ne: one of its ends, in line with the end of the member 71; the end ot the perforated music sheet is tapered, customary, whereby the recess will be exposed when the end of said sheet is reached in the rewinding operation, but at all other times when the music roll is in place will be covered by the music sheet; the valve 70 is so arranged with relation to the mouth of the duct 69 that it closes said duct at all times except when the end of the operating member 71 is permitted to fall into the recess 72 in the take up roll. Thus it will be seen that during the playing operation, and also during the rewinding operation until the perforated music sheet has been .rewound upon its roll, the valve will be held toexclude the entrance of atmospheric air from .the chamber 38 b-y the portion of the music sheet interposed between the recess 72 land the end of the .operating member 71 and that when, in the re- Winding operation, the narrowed end of the music sheet has reached and exposed the recess 72, the end of the member 7l will thereby be permitted to fall into said recess, thereby opening the duct 69 to the atmosphere, resulting in the collapsing of the pneumatic D1 andthe breaking of the circuit to the electric motor B1. The operating member 71 here shown is pivotally mounted at 7l and has a forwardly projecting end 7lb to engage the end of the valve 70 and is provided with a spring 73 which tends to force the free end of the operating member 71 into the recess and to raise the valve 70 and uncover the duct 69. The valve is loosely held at 70a so that it may fall gravitationally -to close the duct 69 when the upper end of its operating member 71 is forced forward by the engagement therewith of the non-recessed section of the spool 12. The valve 70 is preferably provided with a pad 70" to assure an air tight closure over the mouth of the duct 69.

The rewind pneumatic D2 has a dual function. It acts, through an intermediate connection, upon the transmission mechanism to reverse the direction of feeding movement thereof, and also, and at the same time, acts through an intermediate means to cut off the communication which exists between the pumpvB and the player action during the playing operation. As here exemplified, the intermediate connection includes a longitudinally movable rod 75, having a projection 76 to be engaged by a projection 77 from the movable board of the rewind pneumatic. One end of this rod has suitable connection with the shaft 23 to move the same longitudinally in its bearings, and its other end, at 78, is connect/ed to a valve 79 which controls an air duct 8On leading from a. block 80 to a gate box, (not shown). The connection here shown between the rod and shaft 23 has already been described, being the pivoted member 31 and grooved collar 30. These operate to transmit longitudinal movement from the rod to the shaft in a direction the reverse of that of the rod. The gate box serves to break communication bctween the pump and player action when the valve 79 is shifted by movement of the rod 75 toward the left to thereb}y admit air at atmospheric pressure to the gate box. I have considered it to be unnecessary to illustrate or describe the gate box and its connection with the player action in detail, for 'the reason that these may be of well known or any suitable construction.

The valve 79 also controls a second duct, which leads from the block 80 to a port 125 which opens into'a pneumatic 123. 'This pneumatic serves to open a passage for unregulated air between the motor and -the air pump for the rewinding operation, as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

The player action, including the expression mechanism which is employed v'in pianos of the type commonly known as :reproducing pianos, as already stated may :be of well known or any suitable construction and for this reason is not illustrated herein.

The correlation of the projections 76 and 77 from the rod 75 and pneumatic D2, respectively, is such that collapsing of the pneumatic will act through said projections to shift the rod V75 toward the left thereby moving the shaft 23 toward the right ibe- -vond the neutral position of the parts and during said movement disengaging the pinion 24 from the gear 25 Aand engaging the collar 27 with the gear 26,: thereby causing the music sheet to be rewound, as before explained. The pneumatic D2 is collapsed under control of the music sheet, said sheet being provided for this purpose with a special aperture to open to the atmosphere a tracker duct 81 which is connected to the chamber 39 in the body member 35 of the motor control unit D.

Provision is also made for manual operation of the rod 75 to shift the shaft 23 from neutral to play position, and from play position to rewind position, and from either rewind position or play position to neutral position; this provision including an actuating member 82 suitably connected to the rod 75 to transmit movement thereto.

rl`he replay pneumatic D3 operates under control of the music sheet or record, which has a special perforation 85a (Fig. 2) to open a tracker duct 85 which has connect-ion with the chamber 40 in the body member 35 of the motor control unit D. The connection between the tracker duct 85 and the chamber 40 includes a member 86 having an axially movable control valve 87 provided with a handle 88 for turning .it manually. This control valve has a port 89 through which in one position of the valve, communication of the duct 85 with a duct 90 is established said duct 90 extending from the member 86 to the chamber 40. In another positionof the valve 87 communication between the ducts 85 and 90 is broken. As here illustrated the member 86 is a flat block having the mouths of the ducts 85 and 90 in its surface presented to the valve 87 and spaced from each other, and the port 89 is in the form of an arcuate channel formed on the inner surface of the valve 87, which llf) valve is mounted to be oscillated about its axis, at 8Ta between stop pins 86" projecting from the member 86 in aspaced relation on opposite sides of a stop projection 87c 'from the periphery of the valve. A spring 88a on the handle'SS holds the valve against the surface ot thc` member 86 while permitting said member to be turned manually upon said member. Accordingly, it will b e seen that when the tracker duct 85 is opened air at atmospheric pressure'will Le admitted to the chamber 40 in the body member 35 of the motor control unit D, provided the'valve 87 is in the position in which itopens communication between the ducts 85 and 9'0. r1 he admission of atmospheric air to the chamber results, asl previouslyeziplained, in the collapsing of 'the pneumatic D3. This pneumatic hasits movable board provided with a projection 91 to engage a correspondingr projection 92 from the rod 75; These projections are so correlated that-.While the pneumatic D3 is being collapsed it will Aact to move the rod toward the right,"thereby sluiting, as already explained, the shaft 23 imrard the left and disengaging the collar 27 from the gear 26 and re-eiwaging the pinion 24 with the gear 25 whereupon the operation ot' unwinding the n'm'sicsheet' or record Afrom its roll onto the take up 'spoolfis repeated. l

(ln the other hand'fif the valve 87has not previously'been turned to the posi tion in which it opensl communication between tracker duct and duct'90 thefopening lof duct. 85 will have no effect uponthefreplay pneumatic D3, as isapparent. Thusthe playingr of a record may be automatically repeated as often as necessary, Without stopping the lucchanism, or the record may be played only'once, at the will of the operator.

"llnprojections 76'. and 92 as here shown are so arrangedon the rod 75,'a'nd in such relation to the projections 77' and 91 from the pneumatics D2 and D3, respectively,` that when I hc rod 75 has been shifted to the left by the collapsing ot' the pneumatic D2 the projection 92 will be substantially in conavr with the projection 91,*v`vhereby theautomatic shift from rewind; .to replayI position may be promptly made. l'

The second motor controlunit, E, is of a construction, details of which are 'claimed in my Patent No. 1,498,233, issued Junef17, 1924- upon an application filed of evendate herewith. It comprises a body member 100 hai-ingY a duct 101 extendingl to it from the motor C and a duct 102 extending from it .to the pump B. It also Aincludes a cover member 104 preferably formed separate from the men'iber 100 and having Within it a chamber 105 from which a port 10 6 extends through the member 100 and opens into the interior of the pneumatic governor El,

which is inounted on the side of the member'100 opposite the member 104. The duct 101 has communication vwith the chamber 105 through a port;107 formed inthe member 104.` A slide'valvei108 is`arranged to uncover the port 106 to a. greater or less extent` at will, this valve being adjustable by means presently set'f forth to control lthe tempo otfthe playing. The interior of the pneumatic`- governor, E1 has communication with' the duct 102 through a vporti109 formed in the.` melnber 100' and this port is auto- Inati'cal1y` 'e'ont'ro l l edby a flexible regulating' valve 110 lt ing vitso )positeen sse'- cured .iQ-th ble and xecl boards I111 and. .1.12 0f th pneumatic Aspiring' .113 operatively/ connected to 'said vx'novable board 111 ;is byj m eans 'of thearni 114, 'and to a 'suitablef'fiid support,l a s the: larm 11111l rigidlyconnected to tthe fined board A112 'of the pneumatic E1', 'tendsftdkeep the pneurn atic 'e xpanded, but whenthe air withinthc pneumatic-is rarefied, a' s itisin the operation of 'the -mecl 1 anis1nthe tendency of the spring is overcome, :as .Well understood, and thel pneumatic is collapsed to a greater or less extent in 'aecordanceAvit-h the degree of the'reduCtiO'n ,off theftenision ofthe air withing thisis'controlled primarily by the posit-ion `of the v'alye108 with ielaition, `to the port 106. 1 `he current o ,-air, in'.Y the playing V operfa'tion, traverses the following course A:'--froin 'the motor; C through the duct 51er mid pm lofiiitoithei chamber :105,

thence throlightheport l1`06 nto' `t-he pneumatic El, and from 'the' `pnenmatic and into the d u'ct102 byf-Wiy'fof- ,the port 109,-.thence byfvvay 'of tlieduch102; to the pump'. The valve4 A110 acts'as 4 a regulator to overcome any tendency/ of s-rgi ngo r' Aspeeding up or slowing down of 4the motor ,due to yvariations theload .induced byf'tliefbperation simultaneously' of varying number of striker pneumatics or of the varying forces with which the striker pneumaties are operated.

As a 1neans ffor 'adjus`ting the valve 108, I -havefillustrated a manually operable lever 115 arranged Aadjacent the spool box" and connected in any suitable way toA one end of a longitudinally fr no'vable rod 116, whose other end'i's connected'to one end of a lever '117 which ispivoted between its ends, at 118 to a suitable fixed support 119 and has itsi'lother end connected-by a rod 120 to the -Yalve 108.

-KIt is desirable to rewind the music sheet ata' greater speed than that imparted to it inlv the normal playing operation. As a means for this purpose, lha-ve provided the member-5100 withfa port121whi'ch conducts unregulated air from the chamber 105 'to the loutlet opening 102, being here shown as opening cli 1ectly intothe port 109 from the iso chamber 1105"., This port 121 isfcontrolled by a valve 122 carried by the pneumatic 123 .chamber 105.

hereinbefore referred to. The pneumatic 123 here shown is a bellows whose movable board is provided with a projection 124 to which the valve is attached. The member is also provided with a port 125 and with a. bleed hole 126, both o en to the interior of the pneumatic 123, t rough which said pneumatic is under suction during the normal playing operation and is supplied with air aty atmospheric pressure during the vrewinding operation. The port may be controlled by any suitable means, operative either manually or by the record, as desired. It will be understood that. the. pneumatic 123 is held incollapsed condition (and hence 'closes the valve 1.22 uponthe' port.v 121)) dur- 4ing the playing operation` andjat theend of said operation air at atmosphericfpressure is admitted to it,`causing` it immediately to expandand open thefvalve 122'. to provide a passage for unregulated air the chamber'IO' to the ducti102. Asameans for operatingi the pneumatic 123', Ihavefshown theport l125 as connectedwith the duct 80b for the admission o f' atmospheric air tothe pneumatic under vcontrol of the rewindpneu.- matic D2 and have'shown a connection (the bleedc hole 126) betweenthe pneumatic and theoutlet duct 102, to collapse the pneumaticattlie end of the rewinding operation. Other ways, than the one illustrated for con- .trollin the. pneumatic primarily by the musics eet`,` willV readily suggest themselves. f It is sometimes desirable in the'operat'ion of thefmechanism temporarily to.' cut oil communication between the ducts 101 and 102 and' moreover, it is always desirable to cut; Voi 'communication between the pump and the pneumatic instantaneously upon the rewinding of the perforated music sheet or record upon its roll 14. Hence, I have provided a pneumatieally. operated valve. 127 adapted to close the port 107. This valve is carried by a membrane 128, one of whose surfaces is exposed to the suctional force in the chamber 105 and. the other of whose surfaces is exposedI t'o the .air in a chamber .129 having a bleed hole 130 extendingI ,to the A duct 131 opens into the 'chamber 129, andA is provided with means whereby it may be opened to suctional force or to the atmosphere, at will. This means may be controlled manually, or by the record, or by either, as preferred. Itxwill be noted that one effect of the closing of the port 107 will be the immediate stoppage of the pneumatic motor C by the cutting off of communication between the pump and the motor. Accordingly, it' may be employed to supplement' tbe stopping means which comprises the cut off. pneumatic I)1 which operates to interrupt the circuit to the electric motor B1, or it may be arranged to be operated independently ofthe pneumatic Dl to cut ofi communication with the pneumatic motor As here shown, however.y it. is controlled by the same means which controll (he switch 68, it being noted that the duct-.131 has its mouth in such relation tothe pneumaticD and switch G8 that it may be closed by a. valve 132 arranUed to be opened by the switch-operating rodD 67 when the latter is operated to open the switch and break the circuit to the electric motor. The opening of the valve 132 admits air at atmospheric pressure to the chamber 129 thereby closing the valve 127 upon the port 10i and cutting off communication between pump B and the record-feeding and rewinding motor C, whereby overrunning of the latter is effeetively prevented.

Attention is calledto the fact that the motor C, the transmission mechanism, the spool box A and its contents, the motor control unit D, and. the motor control unit E are all mounted upon a common board 150, whichV carriesall of said parts and is provided with brackets 151 at its opposite ends for attaching it removably to the end walls of the piano case. The end walls of the spool box are li-xedly secured to said board and carries thev tracker and certain of the motor control elements as well as parts of the transmission mechanism. In short the parts are so correlated that they may be assembled upon the board and the whole inserted as a unit in the piano, and similarly removed as a unit from t-he piano for any repairs which may become necessary to4 any of the elements.

Itis believed that the objects, construction and advantages of the mechanism will be understood from the foregoing description and-also that the illustrated construction While set' forth minutely in detail, yet is merely exemplary and that changes may bemade in the details without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

It will be especially noted that the mechanism in its entirety embodies a reconstruction and re-organization of elements of a nature such that one of the most important purposes of the invention issecured, namely, the provision of adequate and satisfactory controls for the feeding motor of an automatic grand piano, all adapted to be arranged at the front of the piano case and immediately abovey the key board, in the space now cxistent in such cases, of standard size and shape.

Having t-husl described the invention, what I believe to be new and desire to secure by .Letters Patent, and what I therefore claim, 1s:

1. In a record controlled musical instrument, a take up spool, a rcwinding shaft for connection. to the music roll, a crank shaft.y pneumatic means to apply power to th(` crank shaft in a counter clockwise direction,

lll)

i i key bed, andla' blocky spaced shaft, Apneumatic,'meansvto applyypowento the crank shalt-"in a colm'tex;I clockwise Edirec.- tion, yiewed from; the .rightff-atransmission mechanism including means for i, applying powerx from the cnank- Ishaft to the ,ta-ke" up l spool to rot-ateisaidispoolintheisamedirectionas thelcrak shaft and meanS..-or.a:pply ing power vvfrom. .theI crank. shaft .to the; rewinding sha-ft to rotatethe latterina direction thereverse of thatof said crank shaft, a longitudinally movable shifting: mod, and

` connections between Said -rod ,and the tra-nsmission mechanismJacting upon thel latter to bringthe Apower iapplying means; into operaffzn x" ontrolled grandftpiano, a Afrom each ether.,- aiseerce @pneumatic Power', ailmenniati'- motor having communication therewith ,and arranged ,in the space. ,between the key bed and ,the pin .rbloclcand provided' with a. llongitudinal .crank i shaft -anranged 1 at ythe front thereof and ,toi be' ilriven finia counter clockwise ,diicctiomi iviewed `from theA right,- a @Spool ,b oxfat. fone, end ofifthe motor, said spool box having-a tracker i bariaa i rewind# ing shaft and, a takel ,up spooh; andra 4trans'- mission l'mechanism ineluding :elementsrfor applying power. from thefeounter clockwise movement of the motor crank shaft .to ythe ake up spool-to grotate; the samein-.acounter cloclm'isemlirection as 4vier ved-from. the right, in theife'edintgr .of vthe record fromnthemusic roll, Vand also` fonapplying power: from counter clockwise movement, of thei motor. crank shafnto the revvin ling,shaft ..to rotate the saine in arclockwise direction in' the-rewinding vof the record backonto'the music roll, Ihe.'r cwimli11 g'shaft-running ,ree and "with the take up spoolwhen `the 1power is .applied to the latter ancLthe take up spool running free and with-:the Vrewinding.shaft -when the power is appliedto `the latter. Y 4. `ln a recordecontrolledfmuSical instrument, a .pneumatic motor,`an electrically driven pneumatic pump, pneumatic connections .betweenrthespump ,and-motor; and a stariingand stopping means comprising y,an electric cireuit.a switch in -said;circriit, a

pneumatic, "a connection 4between the pneu-- inatic, and, theg'fswitch ,j-a; ,humanly g operable connection tofthe pneumatic to operate vthe latter-to close the switch, and chambered and ported member having connection with the pump and with the atmosphere and also with the pneumatic,- and' having` va record controlled pneumatically operable valve for controlliim` its communication with the pneumatic.- Y v i 5. In a. record controlled musical vinstrument, a pneumatic motor, an 'electrically driven pneumatic pump, pneumatieconneetions between thef pump and motor fand a starting andstoppingmeans comprising,r an electric circuit, a -switch in said eircuit,a. pneumatic having' a movable board,-a hu-E manly operable .starting leverconnected to said -moyable g board, .aA separate connection bet-weenthe movable board. and switch to close the latter when the movable board is operated by said lever,and ;a chambered and ported member having' connection I with. -the pump and with the atmosphere and also with the pneumatic, and having'a recordcontrolled pneumatically-operable valve for controlling its communication withthe pneumatic` y 6. In irrecord controlled musical instrument, a source of pneumatic power, includin;r an electrically driven.' pneumatic pump and -a switch for controlling the drivingr means for the-pump; a motor; means operated by the motor. andx having-recorddriving'elements shiftab'le to drive the reeord in opposite directions,^-or unwinding and rewindingoperations, respectively; pneumatic connections between the motor and the .main source `of.power, including a pneumatic governor; means for variably opening-apath, including the governor, 'bctween the main source of power and the motor; record controlledmeans forshifting the record-driving elements -to rewind. =the record and for openingcommunication between the main sou-ree ofpower'and the motor, outside the 'overnorg a valve to-close colnmunication .between the main sourceE of power and the motor; and record controlled means to close the latter valve and open theswitch at the end of the rewindinf; operation.v

7. In a means `for-controlling the speed of the record feeding motorot' a record-controlle-d musical instrument',v a body member having an air-inlet opening;l and an air ontlet opening, and provided with a chamber in coimnunication with the inlet opening* and also provided with a pneumatic, and having means through which the pneumatic has communication with the chamber and with the air outlet opening'.` a regulating valveA operated b v the. pneumatic and variably controllingY the communication between the pneumatic and the loutlet opening', a valve for controllingr communication between the chamber land the pneumatic and means forv pei-ating saidfvalve, comprising a huloo manly operable tempo lever, a link connected to one end thereof, a second lever, pivoted between its ends and having one end connectcd to the link, and a connection between the other end of the link and the valve.

8. A motor control unit for a record' controlled musical instrument, comprising a chambercd main body member, having an inlet openingand anA outlet opening and ports through which said openings have communication with thechamber, and also having openings which are` inV communication with cach'- other and. througlr which the chamber has communication witlr oneV of the first .-"namedl openings, at humanly operable valve-'operatively related to lone of the 'secondv named openings, a pneumatic Governor in communication withysaid second named openings, pneumatically operable valves for controlling'the -pontsand.I means for controlling the latter valves individually.

9. A=motorcontrol unit for a. record controlled. musical instrument, comprising a chambered main'body member-, 'h'aving an inlet opening and an outlet opening and ports through which said openings have communication: with the chamber, and also having openings; which. are in communication with each other and through which the chamber has communication. with one of the first named openings, a. humanly operablevalveoperatively' related to one of thel second named openings-a',- pneumatic governor in communication with said second named openings-pneumatically operable valves for controlling the ports and' record controlled means for controlling the' latter valves individually.

10. A motor control unit fora record" controlled musical. instrument, comprising a, chambered and ported -main body member having an inlet opening. and an' outlet opening and passages through which the chamber has Vcommunication with one of said openings, a pneumatic governor having conimunicat-ion with the inlet and outlet openings through said passages and chamber`v a manually operable valve for controlling communication of the pneumatic governor with said chamber, and a plurality ot' valves respectively controlling said ports,4 one ot said valves operating to closel communica'- tion between said inlet and outlet openings and the other operating to open a direct passage from the chamber to one of the openings for rewinding operation, and means for closing the latter "alves, individually.

11. A motor control unit for a record controlled musical instrument, comprising a chambered and ported main body member having an inlet and an outlet opening and passages through which the chamber has communication with one of said openings, a pneumatic governor having communication with the inlet and outlet openings through said passa-ges and chamber, a manually operable valve for controlling communication of the pneumatic governor willi said chamber, and a plurality1 of valves respectively controlling said ports, one ot said valves operating to close communication between said inlet and outlet openings and the other operating to open a direct passage from the chamber to one of the openings, for rewinding operation, and record controlled means for closing t-he latter valves, individually.

12. In a record controlled musical instrument, a source of pneumatic power.l a motor, altransmission mechanism, a record-feeding spool andv arewinding shaft, in combination with a control unit including a stop pneumatic, a rewinding pneumatic and connection between the rewinding pneumatic and thetransmission mechanism, and a second control unit, including a governor, a rewind valve and a stop valve, al connection. to control the rewind' valve of one unit from the rewind pneumatic of the other unir, and a connection to control the stop valve of one unit by the-stop pneumatic of the other unit.

13. In a record controlled musical instrument, a pneumatic motor, an electrically driven pneumatic pump, pneumatic connections between the pump andmotor and a starting and stopping means comprising an electric circuit, a switchin said circuit, a pneumatic having a movable board, means connecting the movable board to the switch to-open the switch by movementof the board infone directionx and to close the same by movement ofthe board in the opposite direcl tion, record controlled means connected to the pneumatic to move said board to open the switch, and a longitudinally movable startingmember pivoted at one end to said board and operable thereon to close the switch.

14. Ina record controlled musical instrument, record feeding and reWinding mechanism, including a spool having a depression, a starting means, a pneumatic operable to start the mechanism, a pivoted member having its free end arranged to enter the depres- 'sion when the latter is exposed in the rewinding operation, and its opposite end pro vided with a lateral projection, a spring to press the free end of said' member toward the spool', a pivoted valve' having one of its ends in Contact with the lateral projection from the pivoted member and an air connection to the pneumatic having its mouth arranged to be opened and closed by said valve.

15. In av recordl controlled musical instrument, recordfeeding and rewinding mechanism, including a. spool. having a depression, a starting means, a pneumatic operable to start themechanism, apivoted member lllfl lll] having its free end arranged to enter the depression when the latter is exposed in the rewinding operation, and its opposite end provided with a lateral projection, a spring to press the tree end of the said member towardthe spool, a substantially horizontal valve pivoted at one end and having its other end in contact with the lateral projection from said pivoted member to be raised when the free end of the pivotcd member' falls into the depression in the spool and to be closed by gravity when theV free end of the pivoted member is moved out Voit said depression,A and an air connection tothe pneumatic having its mouth arranged to be Yopened and closed by said valve.

16. In a record controlled musical instrument, a player action, a source of power, a motor, a transmission mechanism operated by the motor and comprising Aa take-up shaft, a rewind shaft and an element movable to cause the power to be applied tothe take-up shaft and to the rewind shaft alternately, a pneumatic connection between the motor and the source ot' power, having a valve t0 close it, a pneumatic connection through which the player action of the instrument is operated from the source of power, including a valve to render the source ot' power operative and inoperative with relation to the player action-,acontrol unit comprising a'body member` a rewind pneu` matic and a replay pneumatic, said body memberhaving passages in communication with the pneumatics, respectively,v and record controlled means to vary the tension. of the air in the respectivepassages, an actuatingmemberA connected to the movable member of the transmission mechanism and to the valve which renders the source vof power operative and inoperative with relationto the playenaction, a connection between said member and the rewind pneumatic` a connection between said member and the replay pneumatic, a stop pneumatic, and a connection between the stop pneumatic and the valve which closes communication of the source of power with the motor.

17. In a record controlled musical instrument, a player action, a source of pneumatic power, including an electric motor and its circuit and a pneumatic pump operated by the motor, a record feeding and rewinding motor, a transmission mechanism driven thereby, three control pneumatics. and interrelated connections between the pneumatics, the motor and the source of power, embodying elements operable with relation to the transmission mechanism to reverse the direction of movement of the record to rewind the same under control of one pneumatic, and again to reverse it underl control ot another of the pneumatics, to replay the record, and elements to cause the motor to be placed under the power of unregulated air and communication otI the source of power with the player action to be cut otl while the rewinding operation. is y vtaking place and to place the motor under the'action of regulated air and reopen communication of the source of power with the player action while the record is being replayed, and finally to open the circuit to :the switch and also to close communication between the pump and mot-or, under control of thethird pneumatic, and record .controlled means to operate said pneumatics severally, including a means whereby the pneumatic whichcontrols the replay'operation may berendered operative and inoperativesuccessively. 2 l

18. In a recoi'd controlled musical instrument, a player actiom-a#pneumatic pump; an electric motointodrivethe same; a pneumatic motor; connections between the pump and vpneumatic.mo.tor, lincluding aseries of' valves, .one :to -eontrol thepassage of regulated air, anotheryfor unregulated air, and the other to close communication ybetween the pump and pneumatic motor, entirely; a transmission mechanism driven by the pneumatic motor, and includingatake-,up shaft, a rewind shaft and ashiftableelementoperable to causethe .power to.,be applied to said shafts, alternately; .a device operable to cause communication fbetween the pump and player actionof the instrumenttobe opened and closedand,` also to causethe'valve which controls :the passage Ifor unregulated airA be. tween the pneumatic motor and pump to b e opened and closed; an actuatingr member con nected to the shiftable element of the transmission mechanism and toisaid device; a rewind: pneumatic connected to said member to operate,y the same to shifttheshiftable element ofvtheztransmifssion mechanism to rewind positionand .to movesaid device toy close communication "between'the pump and player action and to open -theA valve for un! regulated air; a replay pneumatic connected to said member to operate the same to shift the shiftable element of the transmission mechanism back to play position and to move said device to open communication between the pump and player' action and to close the valve for unregulated air; a stopping pneumatic; means operated by the latter to open the circuit to the motor and to close the valve which cuts of communication between the pump and pneumatic motor; and record controlled means to operate the several pneumatics.

19. A motor control unit for a record controlled musical instrument cmnprising a chamhered and ported main body member provided with record controlled valves, and independently operable rewinding and replay pneumatics arranged back to back and having a common fixed board which is secured te and projects from the main body member and has channels through which the pneumatics are controlled by the valves -o'f the main body member, respectively.

20. A motor control unit'for a record controlled musical instrument comprising a. chambered and ported main body member provided with record controlled valves, a stop pneumatic secured to said main -body member and controlled by one of the valves thereof, and independently operable rewinding-and replay pneu-matics arranged back to back and having af common fixed board which is secured to and projects from :the main body member and has channels through which said pneumatics are controlled by the other valves of the vmain body member, respectively.

- 21.' 'In a Vrecord controlled musical instru-- ment, a tracker means to ced'the record in opposite directions over the tracker 'for playing and rewinding-operations, respectively, a longitudinally movable member- 'operable with relation to said means' to control the direction 'of movement of the record and means to shift gmember longitudinally in oppositefdirecti-on's under -control of the record; :said means-consisting of a control unit, comprising-1a fixed member having channels and {port-S and disconnected movable members orming,"wit'h said fixed member, a: 'pair 'of independently movable pneumati arranged backto back and havin a common fixed rnembelgrdiecontrollunit so comprisinff'la bodymember -towhich said fixed mem 'r is secured 'and from which the fixed member projectsthe'fbedy'fmember;

having a'plurality of chambers in communication with -tlie 'channels in the fixed Vmember,l resfpecivbly,1 andf'also having j' tracker controlled means to` controlth'c tensions of the air i'sai'd"chafi'bers,; respectively, .andi

ment, a pneumatic motor, an electrically driven pneumatic pump, pneumatic connections between the p-ump and motor and a starting and stopping means comprising an electric circuit, a switch in said circuit, a

bellows having a movable member, a connec12 H tion between the said movable 'member and the switch, operated by movement of sai-d bellows member in one direction to open and in the other direction to close the switch,

means under control of a record to operate said movable member of the :bellows in oneV direction, and a member under control iof the operative and having ione of it's ends attached to said movable member 'to move-'the latter in the other direction. f

23. In a record controlled musical instrument, a. casing having a key board and a spa above its key board, and a'pneumaticplayer action, in combination 'with a spool box, a transmission mechanism,a pneumatic motor and mechanism :for controlling the operations of the transmission mechanism and motor, a common support separate from the casing and from the other'parts of the player mechanism, upon which common sup-- port the said :spool box, transmission .mech anism, motor `and control' `mechanism aresecured in proper assembled "relation to fornr witlisaid support an independent unit-fandmeans' to secure said vunitl in said fsjpace in the casing in proper relation with lthe pneumatic player laction and to permit its removal ffroin the casing independently of 'player action. i' "f in testimony whereof I affix my signature.'

TOLBERT CHEEK. l 

